308 



MR. S. C. SARKAR ON THE BUCCAL GLANDS 



In the transverse section of Dendrophis (text-fig. 9) the superior 

 labial and parotid glands and the ducts arising from them are 

 figured. On comparing these ducts, it will be seen that the duct 

 of the superior labial gland opens into the mouth at some distance 

 from the round, peg-like tooth and has no connection with it, 

 while the duct of the parotid gland, formerly forming one of the 

 series of the salivary ducts, has shifted its position in order that 

 it may open nearer to the hinder tooth. In the maxilla there are 

 about twenty teeth, small and almost equal in size ; but the 



Text-figure 9. 



Dendrophis pictns. Transverse section of a portion of the head in the region of 

 the superior labial and parotid glands, showing their ducts. Letters as 

 before. X 63. 



hinder tooth, referred to above, is bent backwards at a greater 

 angle than the rest, also a slight cutting-edge has developed on 

 the posterior face. 



As in all other harmless Batrachians and Keptiles, the teeth are 

 used to prevent the prey from slipping out of the mouth, and at 

 the same time to make small punctures in the body while it is 

 being killed by suffocation. Meanwhile the buccal cavity is 

 flooded with the secretion from all the buccal glands, and the 

 mixed saliva covers the animal and gradually finds its way into 

 the small wounds made by the primitive round teeth. 



Troptdonotus stolatus. 



Text-fig. 10 shows the external features of the gland as seen 

 after the removal of the skin, and also the maxillary teeth from 

 the left side. It reveals a condition strangely advanced in some 

 features, but on the whole distinctly similar to that of Deiidrophis 



